Juror in rape trial swayed by DNA evidence

Foreman: Experts left no doubt

9:12 PM,
Jun. 14, 2013

Andrew Davis

Written by

Clarke Morrison

Phil Shaw never fully understood the power of DNA evidence as an investigative tool until he served on a Buncombe County jury in a rape trial.

But the testimony of experts linking Andrew Grady Davis' unique genetic blueprint to the assault of an Asheville woman nearly 12 years ago left no doubt in his mind as to the man's guilt.

"There was basically no other person on the planet who could have done this," said Shaw, who was chosen by his 11 fellow jurors to serve as the panel's foreman. "Without DNA, this guy would have gotten away with what he did, probably forever." ...